Social Stories

Social Stories, developed by Carol Gray in 1990, are stories which can be used with individuals with Autism to exchange information that is personalized and illustrated. Social Stories are usually short, simple and have defined criteria to make them “Social Stories”. Anyone can create a Social Story, as long as they include specific elements when creating the Social Story. On a personal level, I found Social Stories quite helpful with my son when trying to describe events, activities, social norms and managing expectations. Below are free Social Stories from various resources on the internet. I’ve classified them according to categories that children with Autism have difficulty with.

Communication

Listening is Cool I Can Use My Words Eye Contact or Staring (from Watson Institute)

Friendship

Being a good friend  Noticing Friends How to Talk to My Friends (from Watson Institute) Playing with Friends (from headstartinclusion.org)

Going to Different Places

Airports Bowling MiniatureGolf Movies Farm Airplane Trip Museum  Disney  Going to the Dentist (from iroqsea.org) Going to Wendy’s (from speakingofspeech.com)

Behavioural Challenges

Picking My Fingers (from speakingofspeech.com) What Can I Lick? (from speakingofspeech.com) Biting (from happylearners.info) Hitting (from happylearners.info) Managing Loud Noises (from happylearners.info) Shouting (fromhappylearners.info) Spitting (fromhappylearners.info)

School Related Activities

Getting Ready for School in the Morning (from headstartinclusion.org) How to Use the Bus (from setbc.org) Doing Schoolwork (from setbc.org) Toys in the Classroom (from setbc.org) Walking in the Hall (from setbc.org) Walking Calmly in the School  (from setbc.org) Storytime  (from setbc.org) Fire Alarm (from esc20.net) Seatwork (from esc20.net) Starting High School Listening to the Teacher (younger children) Listening to the Teacher (older children)  Quiet Please (from Watson Institute) Quiet Please (for younger children – from Watson Institute) Taking Turns at Circle (from headstartinclusion.org) Getting My Turn to Talk In Class (from headstratinclusion.org) Summer Vacation (from iroqsea.org) Winter Break (from iroqsea.org) Changing for PhysEd (from happylearners.info)

Manners

Eating at the Table (from headstartinclusionorg) Not Using Potty Words (from speakingofspeech.com) Swearing (from happylearners.info) No Middle Finger (from speakingofspeech.com) Table Manners (from speakingofspeech.com) Swear Words Asking Nicely Saying “No, Thank You” Saying “Excuse Me”  

Safety

Why Do I Have to Wear a Seatbelt?  Staying in the House Staying Safe at Home (from speakingofspeech.com) Safety Wherever I Go (from CarolGraySocialStories.com)

Teaching About Boundaries

Personal Space (from SPEDVisualSupports) Social Kiss (from speakingofspeech.com) No Touching (from speakingofspeech.com) Keeping Hands to Myself (from speakingofspeech.com)

Emotional Regulation

When I Feel Angry (from fasdtoolkit.weebly.com) Feeling Angry (from speakingofspeech.com) Feeling Frustrated (from headstartinclusion.org) Worrying (from speakingofspeeech.com)

Self-Care

Brushing Teeth Putting on Deodorant Let’s Keep Our Hands Clean Not Feeling Well (from speakingofspeech.com) Body Odour (from happy learners.info)

For Advanced Learners

What is a Tragedy? (from CarolGraySocialStories.com) What Autism Means, And What It Doesn’t Mean (from CarolGraySocialStories.com)         
    

Social Stories, developed by Carol Gray in 1990, are stories which can be used with individuals with Autism to exchange information that is personalized and illustrated. Social Stories are usually short, simple and have defined criteria to make them “Social Stories”. Anyone can create a Social Story, as long as they include specific elements when creating the Social Story. On a personal level, I found Social Stories quite helpful with my son when trying to describe events, activities, social norms and managing expectations.

Below are free Social Stories from various resources on the internet. I’ve classified them according to categories that children with Autism have difficulty with.

Communication

Listening is Cool (from Talking Matters)

I Can Use My Words (from Talking Matters)

Eye Contact or Staring (from Watson Institute)

Friendship

Being a Good Friend (from Talking Matters)

Noticing Friends (From Talking Matters)

How to Talk to My Friends (from Watson Institute)

Playing with Friends (from headstartinclusion.org)

Going to Different Places

Airports

Going Bowling (From Family Network of Disabilities)

MiniatureGolf

Movies

Farm

Going on an Airplane (Autism Little Learners)

Museum 

Disney

Going to the Dentist (from iroqsea.org)

Going to Wendy’s (from speakingofspeech.com)

Behavioural Challenges

Picking My Fingers (from speakingofspeech.com)

What Can I Lick? (from speakingofspeech.com)

Biting (from happylearners.info)

Hitting (from happylearners.info)

Managing Loud Noises (from happylearners.info)

Shouting (fromhappylearners.info)

Spitting (fromhappylearners.info)

School Related Activities

Getting Ready for School in the Morning (from headstartinclusion.org)

How to Use the Bus (from setbc.org)

Doing Schoolwork (from setbc.org)

Toys in the Classroom (from setbc.org)

Walking in the Hall (from setbc.org)

Walking Calmly in the School  (from setbc.org)

Storytime  (from setbc.org)

Fire Alarm (from esc20.net)

Seatwork (from esc20.net)

Starting High School

Listening to the Teacher (younger children)

Listening to the Teacher (older children) 

Quiet Please (from Watson Institute)

Quiet Please (for younger children – from Watson Institute)

Taking Turns at Circle (from headstartinclusion.org)

Getting My Turn to Talk In Class (from headstratinclusion.org)

Summer Vacation (from iroqsea.org)

Winter Break (from iroqsea.org)

Changing for PhysEd (from happylearners.info)

Manners

Eating at the Table (from headstartinclusionorg)

Not Using Potty Words (from speakingofspeech.com)

Swearing (from happylearners.info)

No Middle Finger (from speakingofspeech.com)

Table Manners (from speakingofspeech.com)

Swear Words

Asking Nicely

Saying “No, Thank You”

Saying “Excuse Me”

Safety

Why Do I Have to Wear a Seatbelt? 

Staying in the House

Staying Safe at Home (from speakingofspeech.com)

Safety Wherever I Go (from CarolGraySocialStories.com)

Teaching About Boundaries

Personal Space (from SPEDVisualSupports)

Social Kiss (from speakingofspeech.com)

No Touching (from speakingofspeech.com)

Keeping Hands to Myself (from speakingofspeech.com)

Emotional Regulation

When I Feel Angry (from fasdtoolkit.weebly.com)

Feeling Angry (from speakingofspeech.com)

Feeling Frustrated (from headstartinclusion.org)

Worrying (from speakingofspeeech.com)

Self-Care

Brushing Teeth

Putting on Deodorant

Let’s Keep Our Hands Clean

Not Feeling Well (from speakingofspeech.com)

Body Odour (from happy learners.info)

For Advanced Learners

What is a Tragedy? (from CarolGraySocialStories.com)

What Autism Means, And What It Doesn’t Mean (from CarolGraySocialStories.com)

Families

Families are Special (From Talking Matters)